The Palm Beach Town Council on Thursday
postponed a final vote on whether to extend insurance benefits to gay
and lesbian town employees in a domestic relationship.
Councilors agreed to revisit the issue
during an August 13 meeting, according to a statement issued by the
Palm Beach County
Human Rights Council, which is lobbying for passage of the
measure.
An insurance consultant hired by the
town had recommended offering the benefits to eligible workers.
But a projected annual cost of $72,510
dampened enthusiasm for the proposal.
“It is small dollars in the grand
scheme of things,” Council Member Michael Pucillo told colleagues
at Thursday's meeting.
“It is the right thing to do,” said
Mayor Gail Coniglio, a non-voting town council member.
Council President Pro Tem Robert
Wildrick requested more time to study the issue, in particular which
employees would be eligible under the proposed expansion.